NUS students crowned champions of Huawei’s inaugural Tech4City competition

A team of three National University of Singapore (NUS) students was crowned the winner of Huawei’s inaugural Tech4City competition, which concluded on Sep 27. 

The competition, which commenced on May 19, is aimed at empowering youths to create innovative solutions using digital technology to build a sustainable Singapore. It attracted 141 teams consisting of 368 participants from local universities and polytechnics. 

Each team had to come up with a proposal based on one of the three themes – Nature, Culture and Neighbour. 

Held at Singapore Management University, the See Your Voice team consisting of He Gong, Yunqi Huang and Sun Shizhuo emerged victorious over nine other finalists to clinch the $10,000 cash prize.

In addition, they will also be fast-tracked into Huawei’s Seeds for the Future 2023 program and be eligible for an internship with the global technology company. 

The team came up with an AI-driven wearable sign language digitalisation and translation system for the deaf, which is geared toward helping them achieve a better quality of life, while building an inclusive community. 

Team MANGO, also representing NUS, consists of members V Vien Lee, Kwek Siong Peng, Shang Wei Song and Alexandria Remus. They came in second with their mobile assistive navigation application that helps to guide older commuters with the help of augmented reality. 

In third place was Team Homeground Heroes, consisting of members Hong Hui Shi, Lim Timothy and Chua Ying Xuan. They came up with a two-sided marketplace centered on simplicity, accessibility and utility. It seeks to spark a cultural revaluation through turning regular citizens and merchants into everyday “culturalists”. 

The Tech4City competition falls under Huawei’s TECH4ALL initiative – a long-term, digital inclusion program that uses technology, applications, and skills to empower people and organizations.

Huawei also ran three tailored community events in the lead-up to the Tech4City finals, which saw invited guests from partner universities (NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD), industry associates and non-profit organizations coming together to discuss the issues surrounding sustainability in Singapore.

Mr Foo Fang Yong, chief executive officer of Huawei International, pointed to how this competition serves as a form of empowerment which works towards creating a sustainable and inclusive community.

“We are also committed to working with our industry partners, institutes of higher learning and government agencies to align with Singapore’s Green Plan 2030, while empowering more local tech talents with a future-forward mindset to solve real-world challenges,” he said.